Friday, November 8, 2013

Plots & Twists part 4 . . . by Jesseca

Part 4 coming your way . . .

Chapter
4

All
through the day with Justin, Andiworried about what to do.

Justin
noticed the difference and hurried through his business in town so they could get
back to the ranch. After they had brushed down the horses and put the tack
away, Justin turned to Andi “Okay. I know something’s wrong. WHAT IS IT?”

Andi
fidgeted with her braids. “It's nothing, Justin. I'm fine.” Well not exactly lying, Andi thought. I
haven't been hurt and I AM still fine.

“Andi,
honey, I want to help you but I can' do anything if you don't tell me what's
wrong.”

Andi sighed. Justin knew all the tricks of
getting people to talk but they wouldn't work with her. “I'm fine. Just tired and
I don't feel well. I'm going inside.” She brushed past him and walked toward
the house.

Justin
sighed, closed the barn door, and followed her into the house.

As
she entered the ranch, Andi walked up to her room and sat on her bed. The day
had looked so beautiful a few hours ago. Now, Andi didn't even see the beauty. What would keep Mitch home tomorrow?
Andi wondered.

Everything
she thought of was unsatisfactory. Hugh would know she played a role in keeping
him away. Andi shuddered at the thought of what he might do to her if Mitch and
herself didn't show up the following day. As she walked out of her room and
down the stairs. Andi overheard the conversation in the parlor.

“I
don't know what's wrong with her and she won't talk to me.” Justin sounded
exasperated.

“She
was fine with me earlier today. But, come to think of it, she did think she saw
Hugh and that seemed to get her down.” Mitch said.

“I
bet Hugh blackmailedAndi into promising
not to tell us something. This is exactly how she acted when Taffy got taken
two years back,” Chad said his voice full of disgust. “I just don't get how
everything that happens has to happen to Andi .”

Andi
walked into the parlor. Justin, Chad and Mitch sat there, talking. “I heard
what you were discussing. I guess I really should tell you even though he told
me not to.” Starting at the beginning, Andi told them everything that had
happened since Mitch left her in the barn.

Chad's
face clouded over and Andi knew he was getting angry. “How dare he lay a hand
on you!” he exclaimed. “Let me see your arm, Andi .”

“No,
It'll be fine.”

“Andi
, let Chad see your arm.” Justin said in a quiet voice.

Andi
lifted her sleeve up and held out her arm. “Just please be careful.” She winced
as he touched it. “It hurts a lot.”

Chad's
face turned livid as he inspected her arm. “How dare any man do this to my
sister!” he exclaimed. “Well, by the time I'm through with him he'll wish he
never saw Andi !”

“No,
Chad. You can't let him know I told you or he'll do something dreadful to me,”
Andi whispered.

“So,
he threatened you also?” asked Mitch.

Andi
nodded.

“We
need to come up with a plan.” said Justin. “Something where nobody will get
hurt, but where we are able to catch Hugh unarmed. Or, at the very least, be
able to disarm him.”

At
the supper table they talked about it with Mother. They still hadn't reached a
decision when it was time for Andi to go to bed. "We'll tell you what
we've decided in the morning." Mitch told her. "Oh, and by the way,
we hired Dick as a ranch hand. He has a sister your age. You'll be able to meet
her at church tomorrow."

Get a Head Start!

About Andi

I'm the main character in 4 book series: Circle C Beginnings, Circle C Stepping Stones, Circle C Adventures, and Circle C Milestones. I live on a huge cattle and horse ranch in 1880 California. These are my adventures.